Analyst Upgrades: Mattel, EMC, Cyberark Software

Analysts are weighing in today on toy tycoon Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT), hardware provider EMC Corporation (NYSE:EMC), and cybersecurity firm Cyberark Software Ltd (NASDAQ:CYBR). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on MAT, EMC, and CYBR.

• MAT is gaining ahead of the opening bell, with shares surging 5.7%, thanks to better-than-anticipated first-quarter results. In response, Barclays raised its price target to $25 from $24, and B. Riley upped its target to $29 from $27.25. It's a boost the stock needs, as it's fallen 18.3% year-to-date, finishing at $25.27 yesterday. Call buyers have been stepping up recently, anticipating a recovery. Mattel, Inc.'s 50-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) call/put volume ratio of 1.09 is higher than 71% of all readings from the past 12 months. This suggests call buying has been more popular than usual versus put buying of late.


• EMC is getting a lift in pre-market trading, after Bernstein raised its outlook to "outperform." Like MAT, EMC Corporation has been struggling recently. With its close at $26.05 yesterday, the equity is down 11% since its late-February high of $29.24. Like Bernstein, though, most analysts are still believers, with 18 of 24 brokerage firms tracking the shares rating them a "buy" or better. Plus, at $30.35, EMC's average 12-month price target stands in territory not charted since late December. Looking ahead, the company will report first-quarter earnings before the open next Wednesday, April 22.


• For the second time this week, CYBR is set to benefit from bullish analyst attention. Overnight, JMP Securities initiated coverage on the shares with a "market outperform" assessment and $72 price target -- considerably higher than the equity's consensus 12-month price target of $50.56. However, the target isn't out of the question, considering Cyberark Software Ltd closed at $61.12 yesterday, and has been storming up the charts of late. The security has beat out the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by almost 63 percentage points over the past three months. It's surprising, then, to see 63% of analysts issuing "hold" or worse recommendations on CYBR. Should the stock extend its technical strength, it could see a round of price-target hikes and/or analyst upgrades.